Hamas has condemned the Board of Peace’s decision not to work with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in Gaza, accusing the US-created body of adopting Israel’s position.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the decision was intended to end UNRWA’s operations, prevent it from delivering aid and undermine Palestinians’ right of return.
“The decision is a complete alignment with the Zionist position,” Qassem said on Saturday.
The Board of Peace said on Friday that “UNRWA’s involvement in Gaza is unchanged”. But in a statement posted on X, it said it would work only with partners it considered trusted and capable of delivering for Gaza’s population while contributing to a “deradicalized Strip”.
“UNRWA fails on those litmus tests,” the board said.
Qassem described the stance as “strange”, accusing the Board of Peace of attacking UNRWA while failing to provide aid to Gaza or compel Israel to observe the ceasefire agreement and stop what he called the daily killing of Palestinians.
UNRWA’s role in Gaza disputed
Established in 1949, UNRWA has provided aid and education to Palestinian refugees for decades. Palestinians regard the agency as a safeguard of their national rights and right of return, while Israel wants it dismantled.
Members of the Board of Peace have reportedly held several meetings with UNRWA officials despite the organisation’s public position. At a briefing to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, officials named other UN agencies as partners but did not mention UNRWA.
A Board of Peace official said the agency’s programmes could continue if they served Gaza’s residents effectively, while maintaining that “UNRWA’s days are over”.
Philippe Lazzarini, who led UNRWA until earlier this year, said members of the Palestinian technocratic committee appointed by the board to govern Gaza wanted to work with the agency.
Lazzarini has also accused the board of failing to fulfil its mandate, saying Israeli authorities were continuing to block basic aid “as part of a wider plan to keep Gaza unlivable for Palestinians”.
“Grandiose plans is what the Board of Peace does best. Plans however will not keep the people of Gaza warm this winter,” he said, calling for crossings into Gaza to be opened and supplies to be allowed in at scale.
